Vent-valve for barrels



0. SHABLEY. Vent-Valves for Barrels.

No. 223,396. Patented Jan. 6,1880.

MPETFJRB, PHQTO-UTNOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C- Illinois,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SHABLEY, OF LA SALLE, ILLINOIS.

VENT-VALVE FOR BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,396, dated January 6, 1880.

' Application .filed September 18, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SHABLEY, of the city and county of La Salle and State of have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vent -Valves for Barrels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawin gs, and the letters of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification,

and in which Figure] is a'sectional view, showing my invention in position for operation, and Fig. 2 is a view of my invention detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures,

The object of my invention is to provide for the perfect venting of barrels and kegs containing fermented liquors by the introduction of a sufficient quantity of fresh air to replace the liquor drawn off, and to enable it to flow freely.

My invention consists of a self-closing floating valve connected by a flexible tube with the exterior of the barrel or keg, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed,A represents a tube of cylindrical or other suitable shape, made ofsoft rubber or other material sufficiently flexible to take the place thereof. The said tube is closed at its upper end. To its lower end is attached a thin flexible rub ber tube, B, provided at its other end with a metallic tube'or mouth-piece, C, having a circumferential flange, D.

At some suitable point in the tube 13, near tube A, I adjust a metallic sleeve, E, having an interiorlylocated transverse cross-bar, F. The sleeve or tube E is held in place by a string, G, tied tightly around it and tube B.

The upper closed end of the tube A is provided with one or more slits or incisions, H, which, by the flexibility of the rubber, are kept automatically closed, thus constituting the self-closing valve.

In operation, my invention is used in conjunction with a'faucet the shank of which is provided with an opening of sufficient size to admit the tube B. To adjust the vent the tube B is drawn through the opening in the shank of the faucet from the inner end of the latter,

and the valve-tube A is drawn into the end of the shank. The faucet is now driven into the keg. A wire rod (represented at It in the drawings) is now introduced into the tube B until it strikes the cross-bar F of tube E, when, by the exertion of slight force, the valvetube A may be driven out of the faucet-shank and into the keg, where, by its own buoyancy, it rises to the surface of the contents of the keg, upon which it floats, as represented in Fig. l of the drawings. The flexibility of the material of which the valve is composed keeps the lips of said valve closrd until liquor is drawn o'lf through the faucet, when the pressure of the outside atmosphere opens the lips of the valve, permitting sufficient air to enter the keg to replace the fluid drawn off.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A self-closing valve consisting of a flexible tube the upper end of which is closed, and provided with one or more slits or incisions, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a self-closing buoyant valve, constructed substantially as described, of aflexible connecting-tube having a flanged mouth-piece, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the self-closing buoyant valve having flexible connectingbar, as set forth,

CHARLES SHABLEY.

Witnesses:

J OHN F. LEAHY, MICHAEL CALLAGHAN. 

